Ore-drying apparatus.



.I. Q. A. HOUGHTON. ORE DRYINQAPPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 19. 1914.

Patented Ja11.4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

in I INVENTQR ATTO R N l :Y

COLUMBIA PLANUORAPH 20., WASHINGTON. u. C

1. o. A. HOUGHTON.

ORE DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-19. 19144 Patented Jan. 4, 1916 3 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

INVENTOR QQMWW ATTO R N EY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON. D. c.

1'. Q. A. HOUGHTON.

ORE DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I9, l9!4.

Patented J an. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY "IA ruNouuAI'n 55 2 is a'view partly in vertical longitudinal reference should be vide an improved removing vapors and gases from the revolu- JOHN a. A. HOUGHTON, or LowELL, VERMONT.

'rnn sra'rns PATENT O FI ORE-DRYING APPARAT S.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Join Q. A. HOUGH- TON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lowell, county of Orleans, State of Vermont, (temporarily residing in the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ore drying apparatus, suitable also for drying other similar materials, in which the ore or other material to be dried is contained in rev'oluble containers which are subjected to the action of heat.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction such that products of combustion may be carried from the fire box or fire chamber without contacting with the material being dried. r

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of feeding means whereby the passage of the ore or similar material through the feeding chute to the feed box may be controlled.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of means whereby the containers for drying the ore or similar material may be revolved.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of means for supporting the revoluble. drying means.

Another object of my invention is to proconstruction of means for ble containers of the ore or similar material.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be referred to specifically in the description of my invention which follows or will be apparent therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings to which had for a full and clear understanding of my invention 1 have illustrated one form of a convenient embodiment of apparatus embodying my invention, but it will be understood that the, same is susceptible of embodiment in other forms within the scope of my invention and without departing therefrom or from the scope of the claims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same enlarged and showing the central portion thereof broken away; Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent ed J an. 4 1916 Application filed October 19,1914. ea No. 867,408. I

s an end elevation of an apparatus embodymg my inventlon, the blower shown in Fig.

2 being omitted; Fig. 4: is a transverse section taken on the line 4.-l of Fig. 2; Fig.

5is an elevational view of the front end of the apparatus embodying my invention with the suction pump shown in Fig. 2 omitted, and the foundation and supporting brick section and partly inside elevation; Fig. 3'

structure shown in said figure also omitted; and Fig. 6 1s a similar v1ew of the rear or discharge end of the apparatus, the supporting brick structure and foundation work being omltted as well as certain other parts of construction shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the brick supporting structure of the apparatus, the central interior part of which is filled with foundation-material, such asfdirt shown at 3 and 4. The top of thebrick structure is covered or inclosed by means of a flat plate 5 of iron or other suitable material which is supported upon the upper edges. of the sides 3 and 4 of the brick structure.

1 '75 2. The brick mater al 1s extended upwardly "upon opposite sides of the apparatus, as

drawings are closed to prevent the products of combustion from passing out of the chamber .inclosed by the bottom part 9 of the ,brick structure, the sides 3 aud t thereof,

and the covering plate 5, through the triangular spaces below and at the opposite ends .of theplate 5 which, spaces are indicated at 8 and 8 already referredto.

10 designates a series of tubes extending longitudinally of the drying apparatus the oppositeends of which are secured in and supported upon heads 11 and 12, saidheads being provided with flanged holes 13 extending therethrough throughwhich holes the tubes 10 pass as shown quite clearly in Fig. 1

l of the drawings. These tubes are secured to the flangesM by means of 12 are each provided with rims 20 and 21 surrounding the said holes rivets 15. These heads 11 and which rims respectively rest upon wheels or trucks 22 and 23. The wheels 22 and 23 are 7 revolubly supported upon cross members 25 and 26 supported upon and Within the brick work as clear-lyshown in Figs. 1, '2 and? of the drawings.

The rim 21is provided with beveled gear I teeth 27 with which engages a beveled pinion 28 the latter being driven and operating to cause revolution of the head 12 and consequently the series of tubes 10, the head 20 and the parts which are rigidly connected thereto. Although not shown, it will be an derstood that preferably means should be provided for varying the speed of rotation of the beveled gear 28 and consequently of the parts of the apparatus driven thereby. Any suitable change speed means may be employed for that purpose.

The head 12 has secured thereto a central short stub shaft 30 the lower or outer end of which abuts against a series of bearing rollers 31 which are interposed between the said lower or outer end and the inner upper end of an abutment 32 which is supported upon the upper end portion of a braced sup porting structure 33.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the series of tubes 10 are inclined to a horizontal line, the inclination being ap proximately seven degrees. It is apparent, therefore, that unless some means were provided to prevent it the said tubes when revolved would tend to slide to the right. The shaft 30 abutting against the rollers 81 supported in the manner shown and described prevents such downward sliding movement to the right, 2 of the drawings. The rollers 31 against which the outer lower end of the short or stub shaft projects cotiperate with the wheels 22 and 23 so as to reduce friction and I thereby reduce the power necessary to effect revolutlon of the series of drying tubes wlth the material contained therein and the parts having rigid connection therewith. It may be noted also that by reason of the abutment of the stub shaft abutment it is unnecessary that the rims 20 and 21 of the heads 11 and 12 be provided with flanges of any kind to hold the drying apparatus in proper position upon the supporting rolls or wheels 22 and 23.

It will be noted upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings that the rims 20 and 21 occupy what may be termed pockets 35 and 36 in the brick work. These pockets constitute dead air spaces and perform a function to which reference will be hereinafter made.

At the front end of the apoaratus 1 have provided a hood 40 the outer end of which surrounds loosely the inner end of a feed box 41 which is supported upon standards 42 projecting upwardly from a support 43, the latter being supported by any suitable means. The inner end portion of the supporting part 43 is supported as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings upon a portion of the brick work of the apparatus.

The feed box 41 is provided with a feed H chute 44 having inclined members 45, 46 and having reference to Figs. 1 and 30 against the projecting adjustable plates 52- 47 extending transversely thereof to control the passage of the material through the chute into the said feed box. The central inclined member 46 is adjustable by 111621115 the pivoted lever 50, the said lever pro jecting through an opening 51 in the side of the said chute. The handle portion of the said lever is provided with a hole 52 which is adapted to register with holes in the outer curved edge portion of a fan shaped nge 54 secured upon the side of the chute 44 adjacent to the opening 51. The lever 5 may be moved so as to bring the hole into registry with any one of the holes 53 and by means of a pin retained or secured in such position, the inner end of the said lever holding the inclined'member 46 in whatever po sition to which it may have been adjusted.

The material to be dried is introducet into the chute 44 and passes therethrough into the feed box 41 and thence intothe revoluble V cone 40 and from the latter it passes into the lower ends thereof where it is discharged.

' In order to retain the material which is being treated within the drying tubes 10 a sufhcient length of time to drive the moisture and other vapors, which it is desired to eliminate therefrom, the lower ends of the said tubes are provided with means for partially closing the same. This means consists of closing plates 51 which partially close the ends. It sometimes happens that it is necessary to retain certain material within the tubes for longer periods of time than is found necessary in connection with certain other materials. In order to accomplish this 1 have provided adjustable closing means 52 which are adjustably secured to the plates 51. In order to secure the adjustable plates 52 through which pins 54 project which pins have screw-threaded connection (not illustratcd) with the closing end plates 51. It will be seen, therefore, that these plates may be adjusted so as to vary the open space above or outside of the edges of the plates 51 which edges are indicated by dotted lines 55. The plates 52 should not, however, be adjusted so as to completely close the lower ends of the tubes or cylinders 10. When in the position illustrated in the drawing these obviously will retain the material in the cylinders or tubes for longer period than if the said adjustable plates were lowered so that their upper edges coincided or were flush with the edges 55 of the plates 51.

The openings in the lower ends of the tubes above the closing plates are situated to the plates 51 I have provided the former with slots 53 upon what may be termed the inner side portions of the said tubes so that the material is discharged from the said tubes when they are in their uppermost positions and as'they approach and leave such positions as will be clear from an examination of Fig. 60f the drawings. When the tubes or cylinders are in their bottom or lowermost position it will be observed that theopenings are at the top side portions of the said tubes so that the material does not discharge therefrom.

In order tosupply the heat necessary for heating the tubes and for drying the 7 come necessary to removethe soot or carbon material therein I have provided a fire box, indicated at in F 1g. 2 of'the drawings.

In this fire box any suitable fuel may be burned. The heated products of combus tion travel upwardly into the chamber in which the pipes 10 are located, traveling around the latter and finally escape from said chamber to the flue 61 indicated in clotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Instead, however, of employing a burning fuel in the fire box 60 I may otherwise heat thechamher in which the tubes or cylinders 10 are situated as by means of an electric heater. In fact, I do not desire to be limited to any specific heating means "or specific form of fire box or furnace.

I have provided-doors 65 in the side walls of the-chamber'in which the cylinders or tubes 10 are situated which doorsmay beopened to permit the cleaning of the tubes vand the'inside surfaces of the Walls of the chamber in which said tubes are situated. If coal or any hydrocarbon fuel should be employed it would most likely bedepcsits from the tubes 10 from time'to time in order that the full effect of the heat of the products of combustion would be realized upon the said tubes or cylinders.

In order to further assist in the drying of the material in the tubes 10 and withdrawing of the moisture and vapor therefrom I have provided a suctionblower 7 0 hav ng connection with the upper ends of the tubes or cylinders 10 through a suction tube orpipe 71 extending through and being supported .upon the feedbox 41 as clearly shown and indicated in the dra'wings.- As a matter of fact the tube 71 and the feed box 41 in'the specific construction illustrated are integral. i

It will be understood, of course, that the feedbox' 41 is stationary'wliile the hood 40 is revoluble, revolving around the inner larger end of the said box.

In lieu of the suction blower I may employ a blower which is indicated in dotted lines at 75 in Fig. 2 of the drawings for forcing hot dry air upwardly through the pipes or cylinders 10. The air from the blower 7 5 is conducted through a hollow pipe or tube 76, as clearly indicated, and is disendof the pipe 76 terminates, is of a contour and size substantially equal to the largest dimension of the openings in the 'charged'through the flattened funnellike ,portion 77 into the pipes or cylinders l0. The said flattened portion 77 in which the lower ends of the tubes 10above or outside ofthe closing plates 51 and 52.

Although I have referred to the suction blower 70 and to the air forcing blower 7 5.

asjbeing used separately or alone it should be understoodthat these two blowers may be used simultaneouslv and in conjunction,

the blower 70 operating to withdraw the vaporous lheated gases from the tubes or cylinders 10 while the blower 75 operates to v force hot dry air through the said tubes or cylinders and thereby tends not only to vaporize such moisture as may be contained within the material therein to be dried but also to displace any vapor generated by the heat applied to the external surfaces of the tubesor cylinders 10.

The air which is forced through the tubes or cylinders 10 as they move successively past, the flattened funnel-shaped end 77 of the pipe 7 6 escapesprincipally through'thef tube '71 and also partly through the feed chute 44.

. The extension ofthe brick walls soas toextend upon opposite sides of the rims 2O and 21 provides circular spaces in which the said rims are situated. These, spaces arefilledwith air so that they constitute what may be termed dead air pockets which 'prevent the escape of the hot products of combustion aroundthe outer edges of the said ber and cause such products of combustion to be discharged through the flue 61. By

the construction and arrangement shown it is impossible for the products 'of combustion to contact at any point with any portion of the material being treated or dried.

' It maybe noted'that as the dry material rim and confine the same within the cham is discharged from the lower ends .of' the;

tubes or cylinders 10'it-falls into a hood '80 from which it is conducted in any suitable manner as by a discharge chute or trough which is not shown. It will be understood that a of cylinders or tubes 10 are revolved the material'therein, as well as that which may be contained in the hood 40, is agitated he series I claim 1. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a series of tubes, heads having flanged openings therethrough through which the opposite ends of the said tubes project and to the flanges of which the said tubes are secured, the said heads being provided with rims, trucks upon which the said rims are supported, means for causing revolution of the. said heads and the said tubes, means for supplying material to be dried to the said tubes, and power means for removing vapors and gases from the said tubes.

2. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a series of tubes, heads having flanged openings into which the opposite ends of the said tubes project and in which openings the said tubes are secured, the said heads having circular rims, trucks upon which the said rims revolve, one of the said rims being provided with gear teeth, a driving gear in engagement with the gear teeth upon the said rim whereby revolution of the said heads and the said tubes may be caused, means for feeding material to be dried to the said tubes, and means for removing moisture from the said material to dry the same.

3. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a plurality of drying tubes, heads having flanged openings extending therethrough into which the opposite ends of the said tubes project and in which openings the said tubes are secured and the said heads.

being provided with rims, wheels situated within the region of the opposite ends of the said tubes upon which the rims rest whereby the said heads and the parts of the structure supported thereby are supported, one of the said rims being provided with gear teeth upon one side, a driving gear in engagement with the said teeth for driving the said head and the parts of the structure rigidly connected therewith, means for feeding material to be dried to the said tubes, means for supplying heat to the exteriors of the said tubes, and power means for removing vapor from the said tubes to facilitate the drying of the material therein.

4. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a tube or tubes said tubes being supported at an acute angle to a horizontal plane, heads connected to the opposite ends of the said tube or tubes, the said heads being provided with rims, trucks upon which the said rims rest and by which the said heads and the tube or tubes carried thereby are supported, a shaft connected with the lower end of the said tube or tubes, an abutment in alinement with the said shaft for resisting the downward pressure of the drying tubes and parts rigidly connected therewith, and friction reducing means interposed between the said abutment and the said shaft.

5. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a tube or tubes supported at an acute angle to a horizontal plane, means for supplying material to said tube or tubes to be dried, means for supplying heat to said tube or tubes for drying the material therein, means for causing revolution of said tube or tubes, a member projecting from the lower end of said tube or tubes, an abutment for resisting the thrust of said member, and friction reducing means interposed between said member and said abutment.

6. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a series of circularly arranged tubes, means for supporting said tubes in fixed lation with respect to each other, a stationary feed box, a hood interposed between said feed box and the adjacent ends of said tubes to receive material from said feed box, said hood being rigidly secured to said tubes, means for controlling the feed of material to said feed box, and means for causing revolution of said tubes.

7. In a drying apparatus, the combination ofa series of drying tubes circularly arranged, means for securing and supporting the said tubes in fixed relation with respect to each other, means for supplying material to the said tubes, means for causing revolution of the said tubes, means for heating the material in said tubes to dry the same, suction means for removing vapors and gases from the said tubes, and means for forcing air through the said tubes.

8. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a series of tubes circularly arranged, means for securing and supporting the said tubes in fixed relation with respect to each other, a feed box, means for conducting material from said feed box to the said tubes, means for causing revolution of the said tubes, means for heating the material to be dried in said tubes, a tube extending through the said feed box, and a suction device having connection with said tube for withdrawing vapors and gases from the said tubes.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto signed my name this 8 day of October, A. D. 1914.

JOHN Q. A. HOUGHTON.

In the presence of- WM. STANLEY, HENRY F. LOVEJOY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

